Recession Notwithstanding, Not Everyone Is in a Panic
Years ago, I dated a guy with an unstable job history. When I expressed my concern, he replied, "Don't worry, I'll always have a hustle." I was mortified. To me, "hustle" was a word used to describe pimping and illegal gaming activities. Today, that guy is an officer in the military, but he's not stopping there. He also owns a successful entertainment company. He has a career and a "hustle," and you need one too.
Today's New York Times contains an article quoting a Goldman Sachs economist: "The labor market is clearly deteriorating, and it's likely to keep deteriorating." Goldman Sachs forecasts that the unemployment rate will continue to rise, peaking at nearly 7% in 2009. That's 7% of Americans without a traditional job.
Oh, yeah, you need a hustle.
But even with the poor economic forecast, not everyone is in a panic. Those who are not all wound up are the ones who have taken a look within themselves to harness their God-given talents and gifts to create a way to generate income on their own.
I'm not talking about getting stupid rich. It's not about money.
It's about using what you have to provide for yourself and your family. Regardless of your economic status, personal challenges, educational or work history, credit score or job situation, there's something you can do to fill the gap if you have been relying on a traditional job to make ends meet.
Everyone Can Make Money Doing Something
Do you have computer expertise? There's a guy at my church (I'll call him Tony) who is married with a child and one on the way. He seems to have a secure job at a bank (to the extent such a thing exists at banks today), but I don't know because I've never asked him.
Every Sunday, I watch Tony run the computer systems during church. He keeps up with the Power Point presentations, loads the sermons to iTunes and the church website and is generally responsible for helping the church make the best use of technology.
So one day after service, I asked Tony if he could help me get my Indie Business Radio shows up on iTunes.
Tony quoted me a rate, started a few weeks ago, and by the end of the week, you'll be able to download Indie Business Radio shows to your iPod.
My listeners have been after me to do that for months, but I don't have the expertise myself and I didn't know anyone who did. But since I'm always on the alert to find people who can help me in my business, even at church, I found a way to get the job done, while at the same time helping another person get his hustle on. And I know I'm not the only one who can use someone with expertise like him.
What I am paying Tony is not going to cover his mortgage. But if Tony is laid off tomorrow, he's got one good customer who will tell the world that he's a talented computer geek and programmer, and highly recommend his services. Imagine what Tony can do with 10 or 20 people like me telling 10 or 20 more people about him!
If he wants to, Tony can set up a website with one testimonial tonight when he gets off work, and he'll spend only a small fraction of what I am paying him to get my shows on iTunes.
Imagine that. Tony could launch a website today and already be operating in the black.
You Can Do It Too
What are your unique talents and gifts. Can you sew? Mow lawns? Teach people how to plant a garden in their back yard? (If you're in Charlotte, call me please!) Clean houses? Take pictures? Proofread and edit?
Don't just sit around reading all the economic forecasts and becoming terrified and overwhelmed with the job prospects on the horizon. What good will that do?
Do what Tony's doing and find your own hustle. You never know when you may need it, so why not be prepared?
And to that old boyfriend of mine? He's been to Iraq twice. If things go the way I hope and pray they do in Iraq, he may be out of a job after January too. No sweat off his back right? Like he said, "Don't worry, I'll always have a hustle."
What's your hustle?
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